NEARING THE SUNNY SOUTH.
During the second night the storm began to die away, and when
another dawn came the sun actually shone, though the country
looked bleak and cold under the blanket of snow that had fallen.
Just as soon as it was advisable they broke away from their
holding ground and once more started down the river, which was
still pretty rough; but both boys were so sick and tired of that
place they wanted to leave it for new scenes.
They were a little anxious lest in some way the rough owner of
that miserable dog would bob up and give them trouble, and not
until some miles had been navigated did they breathe freely.
And every mile they put behind them meant that they were so much
closer to the genial sunny South, of which they had heard so much.
After this frigid experience they were of the opinion that they
could not reach that balmy region any too soon to suit them.
During the day the wind went down, and when afternoon was waning
they sighted the town of Hickman, which was not a great distance
from the Tennessee line--the mere mention of this fact caused Thad
to give a cheer.
Now, they knew that it was not advisable to stop long at any river
town, for fear of trouble with some of the rougher element that
haunted the docks, but as some of their supplies had become low,
and needed replenishing, they drew in, and Maurice went ashore to
make a purchase, while Thad guarded the boat.
Contrary to their fears nothing happened to give them cause for
alarm, and as for the fellows around the landing, Thad found them
about on a par with the usual loungers, good-natured chaff
predominating. Indeed, one of them even made him a present of a
little yellow cur that had a pair of bright eyes and an
affectionate muzzle, which tickled Thad immensely, he had longed
so much for a pet.
They got away from Hickman at a quarter to four, with a clear sky
and frosty atmosphere that promised good sailing weather on the
morrow.
The yellow dog was immediately named Dixie, and took to his new
title from the start, being a lively little chap, full of fun, and
as frisky as they make them.
He promised to be great company for the boys, and something of a
watchdog, too, when the occasion warranted it, for his sharp bark
upon hearing any foreign sound was enough to arouse the heaviest
sleeper.
Thad declared he would now be able to sleep with both eyes shut,
for up to this time he had been compelled to keep one half open.
Just as Maurice feared they failed to find any place at which to
tie up as darkness came on, and it looked as though they would
finally have to depend on their anchor and a stout cable.
As they slowly floated along close to the shore Thad's sharp eyes
finally detected an opening, which looked very much as though some
stream entered the river at this point, and upon pushing in to
investigate they found that it was indeed so.
And so they rested comfortably after all, though Maurice was a
little fearful lest they be paid a visit by some of the rough
characters floating around the levee at Hickman, and who would
suppose the little shanty-boat could not have gone many miles
down-stream before pulling up for the night.
Fortunately for their peace of mind this did not happen. Perhaps
it was the cold night that deterred them, or it may have been that
Thad had made friends with the Hickman fellows--no matter, they
saw nothing of visitors, and in the morning got away in grand
style, with Dixie barking a farewell to the creek that had served
them so well as a harbor of refuge.
So they continued on their voyage, always making progress when it
was at all possible; and with each day's setting sun drawing
nearer the goal of their hopes, the great city on the lower
Mississippi, where Maurice was to meet his uncle, and speak a good
word for his chum.
It took them a full week to reach Memphis, for they had poor days
as well as good ones, and there were various causes to delay them.
Maurice found a chance to use his gun again one evening when they
had tied up in a convenient cove. It seemed that the ducks had a
liking for that very spot and from tune to time a little flock
would come spinning around the point with the intention of
alighting there, where they would be protected from the strong
wind that was blowing outside.
As soon as he discovered what was going on Maurice snatched up his
gun and with a belt of shells dropped into the dinghy, paddling
over to the point, where he landed, and hiding among some bushes
awaited events.
They were not long in coming either, for in less than five minutes
a venturesome band of half a dozen teal came swinging in. Too late
they saw the boat tied up in the cove, and wheeled to depart, when
there was a bang! bang! and several concluded to defer their
departure.
Out came Maurice, and paddling around he picked up three birds, to
the immense delight of Thad, who issued from the cabin at the
sound of the reports, and of course executed one of his
incomparable hornpipes on the deck at the prospect of another
round of game for dinner.
But Maurice was not yet done; this was pretty fair for a start,
but there should be more to follow; so he once again ensconced
himself in the bushes and waited.
His patience was rewarded, for in less than another five minutes
more birds began to head in, and he was kept busy banging away,
with such success that after the battle was over eight lay upon
the still water of the bayou, while several more had floated off
down the stream.
Not wishing to let any get away after shooting them, the young
sportsman put out in chase in his dinghy, and succeeded in finding
two; meanwhile Thad, with one of the poles, succeeded in
retrieving five of those in the lagoon.
Altogether it was a banner evening, and no wonder they felt joyful
as they sat around the late supper; for Thad, with his mouth
watering, so he said, for duck, insisted upon preparing a couple
right away.
It is not often a fellow can make a fine meal from a duck that two
hours previous has been plunging through the atmosphere from the
north with a speed of possibly eighty miles an hour; but all
manner of things may come to pass to those who voyage down the
mighty Mississippi on a shanty-boat.
The night in this secluded cove was another pleasant experience
which they must always look back to with delight; so it is a
cruise of this sort is marked by its red and white stones, the one
indicating trouble, the other joy unspeakable.
Maurice was not yet done with his business as a provider of viands
for the table, and going ashore as the moonlight tempted him, gun
in hand, he prowled around and presently had his suspicions
confirmed, for he came upon a fat 'possum that yielded up the
ghost at the summons of the Marlin gun.
Thad nearly had a fit when he saw what his chum was bringing
aboard.
Once he had tasted the animal when with some darkies in the brush
--they had gone 'coon hunting with a pack of dogs and unexpectedly
running across a 'possum Thad was fortunate enough to get a few
bites of the animal when done--it struck his fancy and he had
never forgotten the sweet morsel.
"I bet you had that rascal in mind when you bought those sweet
potatoes from the coon yesterday at Memphis," he declared, shaking
his forefinger at the other.
Maurice pleaded innocent of the charge, and declared that the only
one in the party at all able to prophesy regarding the weather or
anything else was Thad himself.
"All the same I imagine they'll just about fit the crime, and
tomorrow we'll see how you can get up a real Southern dinner. Now
that we are entering Dixieland we must pay more attention to the
fads that these people cater to, and 'possum heads the list,"
remarked Maurice, holding the plump animal up so that they could
admire his proportions.
The way the little yellow dog jumped and barked made them suspect
that he knew something about hunting 'coons and 'possum and indeed
there are few canines in the South that do not; so Maurice
declared that if the chance ever came he meant to try Dixie in
that capacity.
There was one good thing about this voyage, and that was the fact
of the ever moving current of the river--so long as they kept in
its swing they could count on being wafted closer and closer to
their destination.
What they had to beware of were the many false channels that led
nowhere; or else after winding in and out for ten miles brought
the traveler out upon the main stream just a mile below where he
entered.
Closely each night Maurice studied his chart and at the same time
kept in mind the warning he had received that this map was likely
to prove wrong in many cases, so quickly does the mighty current
cut new channels along its course.